 | The Tragedy of King Saul |  |
The EPILOGUE, spoken by Jonathan.
Now
, to apply the Doctrines to your Use,
And Regulate an Age Prophane and Loose;
In Saul, you've seen, how Tyrant Passion Reigns,
And binds ev'n Lawless Monarchs with its Chains.
How Kings that yield to its Imperious sway,
Fall unsuccessful, as in this our Play,
And from my Father's unrelenting Hate,
You learn t'avoid his Temper with his Fate.
And Regulate an Age Prophane and Loose;
In Saul, you've seen, how Tyrant Passion Reigns,
And binds ev'n Lawless Monarchs with its Chains.
How Kings that yield to its Imperious sway,
Fall unsuccessful, as in this our Play,
And from my Father's unrelenting Hate,
You learn t'avoid his Temper with his Fate.
In David's Glorious Character and mine,
Two bright Examples of strict Friendship shine,
Loyal the first though by his Prince Pursu'd,
And Dutious to the King that seeks his Blood.
Steadfast the last, and permanently true,
Just to his Friend and to his Father too:
Not that my Vertue shou'd prevent my Fall,
I dy'd but justly since I sprung from Saul.
In Michol is presented to the Life,
A Pious Daughter and a Faithful Wife.
Fearless of harms, while she from harms defends
The Best of Husbands and the Best of Friends:
And not a Character, but justly done,
Instructs you what to seek, or what to shun.
And must such goodly Precepts find no Grace,
Amidst a Christian Land and Learned Race?
Forbid it Brittain! but thy Sons should Rise,
And Follow what we teach with longing Eyes:
Observe our Dictates, and digest our Rules,
Worthy the chiefest Cares of Courts and Schools
We on our side the English Maxim plead,
And tempt with Hopes of Gain to make you Read,
A Bait that never wanted to succeed:
And never must while Profit and Delight,
Join to Persuade, and Mingle to Invite.
Two bright Examples of strict Friendship shine,
Loyal the first though by his Prince Pursu'd,
And Dutious to the King that seeks his Blood.
Steadfast the last, and permanently true,
Just to his Friend and to his Father too:
Not that my Vertue shou'd prevent my Fall,
I dy'd but justly since I sprung from Saul.
In Michol is presented to the Life,
A Pious Daughter and a Faithful Wife.
Fearless of harms, while she from harms defends
The Best of Husbands and the Best of Friends:
And not a Character, but justly done,
Instructs you what to seek, or what to shun.
And must such goodly Precepts find no Grace,
Amidst a Christian Land and Learned Race?
Forbid it Brittain! but thy Sons should Rise,
And Follow what we teach with longing Eyes:
Observe our Dictates, and digest our Rules,
Worthy the chiefest Cares of Courts and Schools
We on our side the English Maxim plead,
And tempt with Hopes of Gain to make you Read,
A Bait that never wanted to succeed:
And never must while Profit and Delight,
Join to Persuade, and Mingle to Invite.
| The Tragedy of King Saul | |